XBB.1.5 on its way to being predominant COVID-19 subvariant

Available in Spanish Since it was first identified in late October (in New York), Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 has rapidly outcompeted other Omicron subvariants and is believed to now represent more than 70% of cases in the northeast United States. XBB.1.5 comprised an estimated 27.6% of COVID-19 cases in the United States during the first week […]

Bivalent COVID-19 boosters prevent severe disease, hospitalization

Available in Spanish The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released two reports showing the bivalent COVID-19 booster provides significant protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization, especially for people age 65 and older.  These new reports follow a recent study showing that symptomatic people who received the bivalent vaccine were less likely to test positive […]

With pediatric RSV cases rising, executive order to help strained hospitals

Available in Spanish On Monday, Nov. 14, Governor Kate Brown issued an emergency declaration in response to a surge of pediatric cases and hospitalizations of respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The declaration will give hospitals more flexibility to staff beds for children, draw on a pool of medical volunteer nurses and doctors and […]

RSV expected to strain pediatric hospitals in Oregon

Available in Spanish Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are increasing nationwide and are likely to rise in Oregon. This will strain the state’s hospital system, especially combined with an expected increase in flu and COVID-19 cases this winter. Pediatric hospital capacity is limited in Oregon and is expected to be heavily strained based on […]

New data show COVID-19 reinfections on the rise in Oregon

COVID-19 reinfections have been one of the largest unknowns during the pandemic. Can you get sick again? If so, when? How serious would a second or third infection be? Does being vaccinated reduce the likelihood of being reinfected? New data compiled by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) help answer these questions.   Let’s start with some […]

The data are clear: COVID-19 vaccines work

Because you can still get COVID-19 if you’re vaccinated, some people believe the vaccines don’t work.   But COVID-19 vaccines are, and have always been, highly effective at reducing hospitalizations and deaths. In the first year vaccines were available (Dec. 8, 2020 through Dec. 8, 2021), the vaccines prevented an estimated 15-20 million deaths globally. In […]

What to expect for our third winter living with COVID-19

Available in Spanish Autumn has arrived in Oregon, with leaves beginning to change color to reds, oranges and yellows. This signals the coming of our third winter living with COVID-19. We are optimistic that this winter will not be like the last, when Omicron rapidly spread around the world, or the first COVID-19 winter, before […]

How exercise impacts your brain 

Available in Spanish The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to be less physically active over the past two years, and that can affect our mental health.  When we exercise, dance, play with our kids, ride a bike, shoot hoops, walk to work or any other activity that makes our hearts beat faster, our […]

Why it’s important to be vaccinated and boosted even though you can still get COVID-19 

To read this story in Spanish, click here. If you can still get COVID-19 after vaccination, what’s the point of getting vaccinated?   This is a common question, and it has a simple answer. Like most preventive measures, the COVID-19 vaccines can’t provide absolute protection. However, these vaccines clearly reduce the risk of getting infected, and […]